Monday, August 11, 2014

Gospel Claws' track is called "I Want It All." Roar's track is called "Dream." If you read my previous post aboutthe split 7inch from Beached Out and The Reference Desk, you will understand why I would say Gospel Claws and Roar are lucky I like the artwork for both sides of their split release. But it is not for me to pass along judgment or opinion, it is simply a truthful statement about my own personal attractiveness as to why I would (or possibly not) pick up their 7inch from a stack of hundreds of others. Again, read the other post (my intro will make sense).

The theme is dogs. The sub theme is duets (or pairs); perhaps a nod to the pairing of bands for this record. Gospel Claws are more regal (like a beagle?) in their approach with the artwork on their side. A dated photograph of two Dobermanns. Roar's black and white hand drawn Siamese-Twin guard dog may have been taken from a 5th grader's Trapper Keeper or brown bag book cover; aside additional customized graffiti that included words like "Gotcha!" and "Awesome," and images of lightning bolts and that funky diamond-like "S" that was never really an icon for anything, but more of a mathematical puzzle of varying lengths. I like it.

Regardless of whether I first encountered Gospel Claws' Pinchers, or the vicious two-headed Roar, I know I would have been drawn in enough to crack open the envelope and see the stunning baby blue opaque vinyl within. With the respectfully simple white label (black text), complimented by the jukebox-ready center hole, the vinyl itself is truly the physical gem of this release. I would have bought this record simply for the wax alone, even if it was only packaged with a white sleeve and no artwork.

Fans of indie pop bands like Black Kids, The Shins, and Built To Spill will enjoy this split release of reverberation from President Gator Records; second for their catalog.